Golf club



Jan. 15, 1935. A. E. LARD A GOLF CLUB Filed Aug. 15, 1934 Patented Jan.15, 1935 l UNITED sTArEs GOLF CLUB Allan E. Lard, Washington, D. C.

Application August 13,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the heads of golf club irons,but is shown only in the head of the midiron type.

upon impact of the blade with the ball. The principal object of thisinvention is to eliminate this unpleasant feature, thus improving thefeel of the shot and the pleasure of thevgame, and, at the same time,retaining the lofting advantage of said irons.

I have found that this objectionable feel is due partly to the impact ofthe ball with the hard steel blade, and partly to the metallic socket ofthe steel neck.

The sole of the blade of an iron club cannot be broad as in the woodheads of the brassie and spoon, for reasons hereafter explained. In thebrassie and spoon, the shafts are longer and the swing is flatter thanin the iron clubs. In the brassie the broad sole, if it impacts with theturf, is deflected by the same and slides along cutting through thegrass. In an iron 'club the sole is narrow and the shaft shorter, thestance closer to the ball and the swing more upright, and a divot istaken with every shot properly executed. The upright swing4 and thedivot stroke cause the ball to rise quickly and go high. A divot cannotbe taken with a broad soled brassie in the manner in which it can with anarrow soled iron club, and it is therefore clear that in order to get aquick rising shot a narrow sole must be provided.

In this invention, I provide a sole of approximately the same breadth asthe present iron heads (approximately 1/"), thus retaining the desirablefeatures of high shots to the green, and atthe same time providing anon-metallic blade and neck which effectively eliminate the unpleasantfeel of the steel shafted irons of today. The head likewise is of theproper weight, properly distributed.

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself Will becomeincreasingly apparent from a consideration of the following descriptionand drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved head of the midirontype, with a portion of the neck or hosel broken away and with a portionof the shaft secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the head illustrated in Fig. 1,showing the loft of the face of the blade 11;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the head of Fig. 1, the neck beingbroken off;

Golf club irons, when steel-shafted, frequently sting the fingers 1934,serial No, '139,603`

Fig. 4 is a section taken alon'g the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating a reinforced neck, theblade being broken oil for clearness.

Referring now to the drawing, I have indicated generally at 10 myimproved head of the midiron type, with integral blade 11 and neck 20formed of composition material, preferably com posed of molded mutilatedfabric, such as can- 10 vas, bakelite, and any suitable binder ofelastic water-proof cement. I may, however, employ any of the well knownmaterials, such as Textolite, or Formica, or any suitable non-metallicmaterial. y

The blade face, that is, the striking face, indicated at 11, Fig. 2, 'isgenerally the same shape as the modern form of midirons, shown in Fig.1, but the blade itself is approximately 5/8" thick throughout, and thisis comparatively narrow 20 with respect to a brassie or spoon butprovides suiicient non-metallic material integral with the neck whenreinforced as at 25, Fig. 5 1

Although I have illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive a blade of uniformthickness, it is under- 25 stood that a blade of uniform thickness isalso applicable to the other non-metallic heads to be employed in theplace of iron heads now in use. I may, however, have the blade somewhatthicker at the upper surface. l

A lead weight indicated atl 16 is seated preferably ln cement in a slot17 molded ory milled in the blade. A sole plate 18 is now screwed to thesole of the 4blade and retains the lead weight immovably in itsposition, the cement causing a 35 tight t. This lead weight, inconjunction with the sole plate and nonmetallic head, gives the head thedesired weight. To secure the steel shaft 19 in the socket 20, Ipreferably anchor the same with a screw as at 21; the usual grip 40being applied at the upper or gripping end of the shaft. The thicknessof the composition face 11 of the bladeforwardly of the lead plate isapproximately the lead plate is approxi'- mately 1% thick andsubstantially the same size '45 and shape as the face of the blade, andthe wall of the'blade rearwardly of the lead plate indicated at 23 isapproximately 1/8 thick, making the total breadth or lthickness of theblade approximately as stated. T'he sole plate is 50 flat for 1/2" asshown in Fig. 4; it then curves upwardly as shown at 22 therebypermitting the lower portion of the face of the vblade to get under theball as the swing starts up.

In the event that a very heavy composition is employed, the lead weightmay be omitted. For strength I may have two weights separated by apartition between the two walls. l

I have thoroughly tted a 141/2 ounce midiron made in accordance withFigs. 1 to 4 and the specification stated and this new clubunquestionably gives a sweeter feeling ball, and a Y longer ball thanthe ordinary modern steelshafted midiron club tested under the sameconditions and with the same balls.

The other types of heads (not shown) having a greater or less loft tothe faces than the midiron, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, practicallyduplicate the midiron with a`small difference in weight. The mashie typeblades are somewhat deeper than the midiron, and the angle of the solemore acute with respect to the face.

Although I have shown and described embodi- -ments of my invention, Icontemplate that nuwhich is characteristic of the well-known ordi-- naryirons heads and having the usual lofted strikingA face, said restrictedwidth of sole in conjunction with said lofted face whenv taking anupright turf-taking swing, operative to effect a lofted trajectory tothe struck ball, and a metal weight forming a part ofthe blade having aforwardly presented surface conforming nearly inextent to and beinggenerally of the outline of the striking surface of the blade, saidweight having a forward face disposed rearwardly of and substantiallyspaced from said striking surface and arranged substantially in parallelrelation thereto, the total weight of said head approximating that ofcorrespondingly lofted heads of the usual irons type, and a durableprotective turf-cutting metal sole plate secured on the bottom surfaceof the blade.

2. A head for golf clubs of the well-known irons type comprising a bodyof non-metallic material consisting of 'a tubular shaft-receiving hoseland a blade portion, said blade portion having a sole substantially ofsuch restricted width which is characteristic of the well-known ordinaryirons heads and having the usual lofted striking face, said restrictedwidth of sole in conjunction with said lofted face when taking anupright turf-taking swing, operative to eiect a lofted trajectory to thestruck ball, and a metal weight forming a part of the blade generally ofthe outline of the striking surface of the blade, said weight having aforward face disposed rearwardly of and substantially spaced from saidstriking surface and arranged substantially in parallel relationthereto, the total weight of said head approximating that ofcorrespondingly lofted heads of the usual irons type,

and a durable protective turf-cutting metal sole plate secured on thebottom surface of the blade.

3. The head for golf clubs substantially as set forth in the precedingclaim characterized by said non-metallic body having its blade portionrecessed, said recess containing at least a portion of said weight.

ALLAN E. LARD.

